Cross-cutting Issues

Gannett Fleming has been retained by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District
Four to evaluate an operational test application of a video based wrong-way detection system.
The objective of the study is to determine the viability of video detection for wrong-way
detection on an expressway off-ramp application and the potential for unrelated traffic or
external phenomenon, low lighting, small animals etc., to affect system accuracy. This
operational evaluation encompasses both a Long-Run test during normal ramp operation and
a controlled simulation exercise. The simulation exercise involved temporarily closing the
ramp and having test vehicles simulate potential wrong way incidents. Three locations were
selected for the operational test implementation after considering pre-determined criteria.
These I-95 interchange locations were Oakland Park Boulevard, Commercial Boulevard and
Sample Road. The test system was designed by Gannet Fleming taking into consideration
vendor input and constructed by a FDOT contractor. The test data collected from the Long-
Run test and simulation exercise was utilized to evaluate the system. This system evaluation
provides insight into the operational feasibility of a specific video based wrong way detection
application; however, further study would be needed in order to determine the feasibility or
cost effectiveness of the application.

Author: Damien Rose, E.I.

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

The present study examined the opinions of transit agency officials and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) stakeholders regarding Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in transit. Two forms of information gathering (a questionnaire and personal interviews) were implemented. Forty-four (44) stakeholders were interviewed over the course of seventeen (17) interviews.

The questionnaire and interviews gathered opinions concerning ITS-transit technology already implemented, and the potential for ITS-transit in the future. Opinions on the potential obstacles to deployment of ITS-transit, and other numerous issues relating to ITS-transit, were also gathered. This paper outlines the various issues relating to ITS-transit that were discussed, and includes the responses to the follow-up questionnaire and the interviews. The study indicates that most transit professionals contacted think ITS-transit can potentially revolutionize transit. However a lack of funding to create ITS-transit systems and initiate deployment is stated as one of the obstacles that significantly hinder its development. Nevertheless, the majority of respondents think ITS-transit – with the proper funding – can bring the “choice rider” to transit. Despite the enthusiasm for the potential of ITS-transit, the respondents often stated a reorganization of transit was needed. Only after that occurs can ITS-transit flourish. In fact, many of those contacted for this study think there are too many areas within conventional transit operations that require improvement before ITS-transit needs to be a concern. This view – that ITS-transit in most areas is merely a decorative add-on that can only be implemented with a solid, structured, and organized transit system for it to work within – permeated throughout many  conversations with the transit professionals.

Center for Urban Transportation Research

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida